Participating Countries

Summary on ice

Summary on ice

What the women brought to PyeongChang

Published 15.08.2018 16:18 GMT+11 | Author Andrew Podnieks

GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 20: Team Korea celebrates after playing if their final game during classification round action at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The Olympic hockey tournament is over for the women, and there were many highlights among the 22 games played. Herewith a synopsis.

Game 2—Alina Muller ties records for most goals in a period (3), most goals in a game (4), and most points (6) in a game in Switzerland’s big 8-0 win over Korea. Over and above the score line, the game was politically historic because the Korean team was a blend of players from the south and north.

Game 3—Finland scored the opening goal against the United States and led for nine minutes, playing a tough game from start to finish in a tense 3-1 loss (including an empty netter).

Game 6—Although Sweden beat Korea 8-0, the North Korean cheerleading team captured the hearts of the 4,244 fans who cheered Korea’s every puck possession and shot.

Game 9—The Swiss beat Sweden, 2-1, to finish atop Group B with a perfect 3-0 record and a goals for/against aggregate of 13-2. Florence Schelling earned two shutouts to become the first woman to have five career shutouts, and she also set Olympic records for a goalie for most games played, most minutes played, and most wins.

Game 10—For the first time since 2002, two Asian nations played an Olympic ice hockey game against each other. No matter that Japan beat host Korea, 4-1—Randi Griffin scored the first ever goal for Korea. That puck is on its way to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada.

Game 11—In a gold-medal preview, Canada scored twice and surrendered only an early goal in the third to the U.S., playing solid hockey with the lead and winning, 2-1. The Americans had the better of play, but Genevieve Lacasse was sensational in goal for the Canadians.

Game 13—Even though the Olympic Athletes from Russia were in Group A and Switzerland in Group B, the 6-2 win by OAR in the quarter-finals came as a shock. The win was keyed by an early goal by Anna Shokhina with her team two men short.

Game 16—In another stunning result, Japan won its second game of the Olympics, this time beating Sweden in overtime on a goal by Ayaka Toko. Japan went on to finish in sixth place, its best result ever.

Game 19—Although Sweden beat Korea, 6-1, to take seventh place, Soojin Han tied the game for Korea early in the first period, the nation’s second goal ever.

Game 21—Finland jumped into a 2-0 lead in the bronze-medal game, held a 3-1 lead for a while, and narrowly held on for a 3-2 win over OAR to claim third place. It was the nation’s third bronze medal at the Olympics.

Game 22—What can be said that hasn’t already—both about this rivalry, and this game? Canada and the United States play the game like no other countries in women’s hockey. This time, the Americans took advantage of a terrible line change by Canada to tie the game in regulation, 2-2, and after a scoreless, pressure-filled overtime of 20 minutes, the Americans took gold via the shootout, Jocelyne Lamoureux the hero. It was the nation’s first Olympic gold in 20 years and ended Canada’s run of four in a row.